Design Matters with Debbie Millman: Episode Summary – Ken Burns

Release Date: November 11, 2024

In this compelling episode of Design Matters with Debbie Millman, host Debbie Millman engages in an in-depth conversation with the renowned documentary filmmaker Ken Burns. The episode delves into Burns's illustrious career, personal history, and his latest project—a groundbreaking film on the Renaissance polymath Leonardo da Vinci. Joined later in the episode by Burns's collaborators Sarah Burns and David McMahon, the discussion offers rich insights into the art of storytelling, filmmaking, and the intersection of history and creativity.

Ken Burns’s Early Life and Influences

Debbie Millman begins by exploring Ken Burns's childhood in Brooklyn, New York, highlighting the profound impact of his parents:

• Father’s Influence: Burns's father, an academic and cultural anthropologist, nurtured his early interest in photography and film. Ken reminisces, "[...] his love for movies and the visual commitment he instilled in me are foundational to everything I am" (04:00).

• Mother’s Battle and Legacy: The conversation turns poignant as Burns recounts the loss of his mother to cancer at age 12. He reflects, "There's not a day that I don't think about it. It's influenced all that I do" (12:58). This experience profoundly shaped his narrative sensibilities, driving him to "wake the dead" through his storytelling (11:11).

The Genesis of a Filmmaker

Burns shares his journey into documentary filmmaking, emphasizing his academic years at Hampshire College:

• Early Films: His initial forays were short, seemingly insignificant projects. Burns admits, "all my films are about my mother" (13:09), hinting at the deeply personal nature of his storytelling.

• Breakthrough with "The Civil War": Transitioning to larger projects, Burns discusses how his documentary on the Brooklyn Bridge earned an Oscar nomination, setting the stage for his future endeavors. He describes his filmmaking ethos: “I'm just a storyteller” (16:11).

The Ken Burns Effect and Storytelling Philosophy

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to Burns's unique storytelling technique, often referred to as the Ken Burns Effect:

• Narrative Technique: Burns elucidates how he transforms static photographs into dynamic storytelling elements through panning, zooming, and thoughtful editing. He states, "It's really our attempt to take that old feature filmmaker that I wanted to be and treat each photograph like it was the master shot" (19:14).

• Emotional Engagement: Highlighting moments of emotional depth in interviews, Burns recounts instances where he paused filming to honor profound responses from interviewees, underscoring his commitment to authentic storytelling (27:56).

Focus on American History and Racial Justice

Burns articulates his dedication to unearthing and narrating the multifaceted aspects of American history:

• Inclusive Storytelling: He emphasizes the importance of addressing complex themes such as racial justice and civil rights, asserting, "There's no them. That's what every dictator every authoritarian wants to do" (33:22).

• Challenging Narratives: Burns critiques the sanitization of historical events, advocating for an honest portrayal that acknowledges both the triumphs and the tragedies intertwined in the American narrative (35:17).

Introducing the Leonardo da Vinci Film

Transitioning to his latest project, Burns introduces his film on Leonardo da Vinci, co-directed with Sarah Burns and David McMahon:

• Inception of the Project: Burns credits their collaborator Walter Isaacson for inspiring the shift to a non-American subject. He quips, "It's all their fault Walter and then Sarah and Dave, mostly Sarah and Dave, for overcoming that" (38:01).

• Innovative Filmmaking: The film marks a stylistic evolution for Burns and his team, incorporating split screens, original scores, and animation to bring Leonardo's multifaceted genius to life. Sarah Burns remarks, "We wanted to make this an experience for our audience where it felt like they were inside his head" (49:53).

• Visual and Musical Language: Collaborating with composer Caroline Shaw, the film employs a unique musical arrangement that blends strings, percussion, and vocalizations to evoke Leonardo's spirit. This choice underscores the film's aim to transcend traditional documentary boundaries (53:10).

Exploring Leonardo da Vinci’s Genius

The discussion delves into what sets Leonardo apart as a historical figure:

• Interdisciplinary Mastery: David McMahon highlights Leonardo's integration of art and science, noting, "His interest in nature and the human form brings his paintings to this additional level of humanity" (42:02).

• The Mona Lisa Reimagined: Burns reflects on the enigmatic Mona Lisa, emphasizing its embodiment of the human condition and Leonardo's enduring legacy. He articulates, "She represents the epitome of the human project, period" (43:55).

• Bringing Notebooks to Life: The film leverages Leonardo's extensive notebooks to illustrate his thought processes, allowing contemporary audiences to connect with his relentless curiosity and innovative thinking (65:54).

Collaborative Filmmaking with Sarah Burns and David McMahon

The latter part of the episode features Burns's collaborators, Sarah Burns and David McMahon, who provide additional perspectives on the making of the Leonardo film:

• Team Dynamics: David McMahon describes the collaborative process, emphasizing mutual respect and creative synergy. "Everyone listens to each other and everyone trusts each other, and it ends up being this really wonderful process" (39:30).

• Research and Visual Strategy: Sarah Burns discusses the challenges of depicting a subject from the 15th century lacking contemporary archival materials. The team employs innovative visual techniques to bridge historical gaps, such as using modern footage and natural landscapes to parallel Leonardo's observations (46:59).

• Stylistic Innovations: The film's departure from traditional forms is a deliberate choice to capture Leonardo's multifaceted genius. Burns asserts, "It's both a departure and not. It’s always a good thing to serve the story" (51:31).

Reflections on Humanity and Storytelling

In closing, Ken Burns shares his philosophical takeaways from creating the Leonardo film:

• Human Potential: Burns muses on the duality of human imperfection and the relentless pursuit of knowledge, inspired by Leonardo's embodiment of both. "There is a joyful byproduct of the sometimes painful pursuit of all of those questions" (69:34).

• Enduring Legacy: He underscores the timeless relevance of meaningful storytelling in illuminating the human condition, aspiring for audiences to emulate Leonardo's insatiable curiosity and passion for understanding the world.

Key Quotes:

• Ken Burns on Storytelling: "I'm just a storyteller." (16:11)

• Ken Burns on Mother’s Influence: "There's not a day that I don't think about it. It's influenced all that I do." (12:58)

• Ken Burns on the Mona Lisa: "She represents the epitome of the human project, period." (43:55)

• Sarah Burns on Collaborative Process: "Everyone listens to each other and everyone trusts each other, and it ends up being this really wonderful process." (39:30)

• David McMahon on Leonardo's Notebooks: "That is where we get this access to Leonardo's extraordinary mind." (65:54)

This episode not only celebrates Ken Burns's monumental contributions to documentary filmmaking but also offers a profound exploration of Leonardo da Vinci's enduring legacy through innovative storytelling techniques. For those seeking inspiration in storytelling, history, or the creative process, this conversation provides invaluable perspectives and insights.